Feb 5 (RC) Earl and Countess of Wessex have wrapped up a five-day visit to Sri Lanka to take part in celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the country�s independence. Their visit began on 1 February, when the couple touched down and were greeted by the State Minister of Foreign Affairs. The tour, per the Royal Family�s website, was meant to �celebrate the long-standing UK and SL relationship, more..

Feb 5 (Island) British learned the vernacular of SL to spread seeds of discontent among various ethnicities that had hitherto lived harmoniously in the country, Minister S.B. Dissanayake said at an event to celebrate the Independence Day at Hewaheta. There were yet 96 tanks in the Kandyan district that had been destroyed by the British colonists, he added asserting that the only kingdom that the British Empire could not defeat in battle was the Kandyan Kingdom. more..

Feb 5 (NR) State Minister Dilan Perera claims that he will request the President to appoint a new PM and a Cabinet after the 10th of Feb. He noted that based on the results of the Local Authority Election, a request will be made to appoint a caretaker govt. State Minister added the country needs a caretaker govt to take the country forward. State Minister said SLFP needs to support the with the President and his move as the President is taking action against fraudsters. more..

Feb 5 (AJ) At first, the tall, brooding silhouette at her doorstep was unrecognisable. After more than three decades, Sellaiah Manoranjan, an ex-Tamil fighter, returned to a house in Jaffna where he and his family once sought refuge from the SL military. It reminded his Sinhalese host of the time she risked her own safety by offering shelter to this Tamil family in the beginning of the country's 26-year civil war. more..

Feb 5 (CT) They Navy vehemently refuted allegations by a group of both local and foreign guests who had claimed that they had been robbed while asleep at a holiday bungalow situated inside the highly fortified Eastern Command Headquarters in Trincomalee. A senior most official said that the group is alleged to have made up the incident to the local media in order to make an insurance claim upon returning to their home country Canada. The group of 19 was housed at the Forest Side more..

Feb 5 (AD) The license of W.M.Mendis Company has been withdrawn due to the non-payment of taxes, the Department of Excise announced. Accordingly, the production activities of the distillery had halted since last week, it is reported. The company belongs to Arjun Aloysius; the owner of Perpetual Treasuries Limited who was named as a main suspect to the Central Bank bond scam. Accordingly, the production in the Arrack distillery located in Welisara has come to stand still. more..

Feb 5 (DM) Referring to the incident where Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake is alleged to have attempted to assault a Buddhist monk three months ago, CaFFE Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon urged President Sirisena to sack Chamara Sampath with immediate effect. He said the incident, which had taken place at the CM�s office, was swept under the carpet because more..

Feb 5 (AD) Employees of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) have decided to engage in a strike based on a number of issues. Co- Convener of National Water Supply and Drainage Board Joint Trade Union, Upali Ratnayake stated that the strike action will be held from today until Feb 7, island-wide. The decision was taken due to the failure of discussions held with the Minister, he said. NWSDB employees engaged in a token strike action on Jan 28 based on salary issues. more..

Feb 5 (DM) While attempting to lodge a complaint on lost Gold Chains, police uncovers details of an illicit love affair. This story is revealed from Dambulla Police sources. Police had been informed on its emergency line of the robbery of two Gold Chains by a woman saying that three persons snatched the Gold Chains she was wearing and escaped. HQI of Dambulla Police Sampath Wickramarathne who lost no time on this matter had instantly deployed three expert police officers to nab the thieves. more..

Feb 5 (CI) The hamstring complaint that forced Angelo Mathews out of the tri-nation series in Bangladesh after one match will in fact keep him out of the entire Bangladesh tour. As has often been the case with Mathews, this injury is taking longer to recover from than team management had initially forecast. It was earlier suggested that Mathews could've been fit enough to play in the ongoing Test series, but more..

Feb 5 (GDI) Sri Lanka Telecom celebrated its 160th anniversary by conducting programs to share knowledge and technology with schools in rural areas, enhance the well-being and protect the environment. Since establishing in 1857, SLT is successful in carrying out its social responsibility by connecting people, strengthening social relationships of Sri Lankans as well as positively contributing to the national economy. Throughout 2017 SLT celebrated commemorative events more..

Feb 5 (DM) Joint Association of Unemployed Graduates Convener Thanne Gnanananda Thera has said he will complain to the Human Rights Commission (HRC) tomorrow about the Uva Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake having attempted to assault him. The monk said new evidence with regard to the incident where the Uva CM had attempted to assault him sometime ago had cropped up, paving the way for him to seek the help of the authorities. more..

Feb 5 (AD) The owner of Perpetual Treasuries Limited Arjun Aloysius and CEO Kasun Palisena were re-remanded till Feb 16 by the Fort Magistrate a short while ago. Arjun Aloysius and Kasun Palisena were produced again before Fort Magistrate earlier today. They were arrested by the CID yesterday following a complaint lodged by present Governor of the Central Bank Indrajit Coomaraswamy on 2016. more..

Feb 5 (GDI) The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) was recently awarded the ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management System certificate for Human Resources by Bureau Veritas Certification Holding SAS � UK Branch, confirming that the CSE has implemented a quality management system for HR in which all processes and procedures have been carefully designed and quality-tested according to international standards. Commenting on the development, Head of HR at the CSE more..

Feb 5 (NR) JHU has charged of a planned loss the country has incurred when acquiring int'l loans amounting to millions of rupees for the construction of a section of Southern Expressway from Pothuhera to Galagedara. MP Udaya Gammanpila said the govt had agreed to pay an extraordinary insurance fee for the loan adding that Arjun Aloysius had been the local agent to obtain the loan. He said the approval of the loan was made by the Monetary Board which consisted of former CB more..

Feb 5 (EN) Sri Lanka's police will travel to escort back home the fugitive former diplomat, Udayanga Weeratunga, to face charges of corruption in the purchase of MiG aircraft, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka said. Weeratunga was reportedly stopped at the Dubai international airport when he tried to leave for the United States. Police want to bring him back to Sri Lanka to face criminal charges over the 2006 MiG purchase deal. more..

Feb 6 (CT) �The spurt in education which propelled Sri Lanka to achieve a high level of social development began even before the country gained independence� It further adds � �Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara who held the portfolio of education during this whole period is one person responsible for initiating a series of educational reforms that created a lasting influence on the history of this country�. (Education First, Ministry of Education). The �Education Ordinance, No. 31 of 1939� � more..

Feb 6 (CT) As a Sri Lankan Muslim woman working on women�s rights issues, this is unfortunately a question that my sisters and I ask ourselves almost everyday. More so in light of information surfacing about drastically contradicting viewpoints on key issues amongst members of the 2009 government appointed Committee, which was set up to recommend reforms to the 1951 Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA). The debates surrounding the MMDA in Sri Lanka � more..

Feb 6 (SO) State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe says, everybody expects the UNP to do everything, above perfection. He said, it has been revealed that Thajudeen�s murder and Lasantha�s murder had been committed by a special Army unit which unfortunately, nobody is questioning. Everybody is pointing an accusing finger at the UNP for everything. It is difficult to understand why there should be such more..

Feb 6 (ST) Who would you believe in this age of yahapalanaya? As the election campaign to elect to local bodies even larger numbers of parasitic politicians surviving on the public purse gets into high gear the more the public is regaled with stories, promises and old wives tales. Open-mouthed politicians are roaming the country spreading confusion with new political constructions whose shelf-life is 48 hours or less. One political high-up�s fairy tales told today are denied or more..

Feb 6 (Island) Unnoticed, and hence acknowledged by the rest of the nation, TNA leaders campaigning for the LG polls in the North and the East have been talking with greater clarity and openness than ever before on aspects of the Constitution Assembly�s Interim Report that impinge on aspects of the national problem that have been eluding a broader discourse, and hence a possible solution. While the majority Sinhala polity could well thank the TNA�s political detractors from within more..

Feb 6 (CT) UNP MP, Minister John Amaratunga said his Party will take regressive disciplinary action against all the UNP MPs who were in the COPE and who were allegedly found to have had dealings with Chairman of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd. Arjun Aloysius, the prime suspect in the Treasury Bonds scam. "Some have been found to have taken kickbacks as well and they will be made to resign from their Cabinet portfolios more..

Feb 6 (CT) Sri Lanka celebrated yet another anniversary of independence yesterday, amidst political uncertainties because of the forthcoming election, though for local bodies, but turned out to be a trial of strength, between and within political parties. The sad side of the current political scenario is the voter bewilderment that could result in a sharp drop of voter turnout at this weekend's Local Govt Election. Over the last seven decades, the image of the politician has dropped to a very low level. more..

Feb 6 (GV) 70 years after independence, our identity is defined mostly along majoritarian lines, which can be traced back to the divisions created under British rule. These divisions have contributed to violence and war, in the years since 1948. To this day, there are communities who feel that what is commonly projected and defined as the Sri Lankan identity does not reflect their reality, or themselves. Looking at this, Groundviews produced a series of videos exploring identity and belonging in a country more..

Feb 6 (ST) On this 70th anniversary of independence, it is appropriate to dwell on the economic and social achievements of the nation since regaining independence in 1948. Despite the economy�s underperformance discussed in last Sunday�s column, there have been significant social and economic achievements since independence. The structure of the economy has been transformed from a predominantly agricultural one to a more diversified one. more..

Feb 6 (DN) Oman Ambassador to SL Jumah Al-Shehhi highlighted the need to take concerted and effective measures to give a further fillip to existing bilateral relations between SL and Oman. He also invited SL entrepreneurs to invest in the 11,000-acre Sohar Free-zone, Oman. Sohar Free-zone is Oman�s joint venture with the Port of Rotterdam and is one of the fastest developing port cum economic zones in the world, therefore vast amount of space is available for SL exporters too, more..

Feb 6 (Roar) An egret snaps its beak at a bottle of Fanta. A farmer mourns the contamination of his rice paddies. A family on the fringes of the Dehiwala canal buckets foul water from their flooded home. The importance of Colombo�s wetlands�and indeed wetlands in all major cities, globally�cannot be overstated. They are a vital cog in the health and wellbeing of the city�s ecosystem. They are a natural defence against flooding, more..

Feb 6 (Island) It took many years from the time it was requested, for it to be installed. Large, heavy and with a rotary dial, our family�s first phone was placed in my parent�s room. Before that, my sister and I walked around 200 meters to use the only phone in our neighbourhood. It was placed in a shop that half-heartedly sold other things, almost as an excuse to lure more people to use the phone. BBS in the 90s meant something very different to what the acronym is known for today, and more..

Feb 6 (Island) Key yahapalana leaders keep contradicting themselves. They had the public believe before the 2015 presidential election that confrontational politics was the bane of the country; they made a solemn pledge to put an end to it and usher in a new political culture. They sought a popular mandate to enter into a political marriage, which, they said, would work miracles and make the country�s problems disappear like smoke from a chimney. People voted for them. more..

Feb 6 (FT) The BOI has called for expressions of interest (EOIs) from potential investors to setup export manufacturing projects in already-developed Export Processing Zones (EPZ) in Koggala, Seethawake, Horana, Mawathagama, Polgahawela, Kandy and Mirigama. BOI has assured various incentives and facilitation for enhancing the private sector developed EPZs for potential investors to establish export more..

Feb 6 (FT) Supreme Court refused to grant leave to proceed with the fundamental rights petition filed by a Central Bank officer against the officers of the Attorney General Department but without costs. The Bench comprised Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, Justices Eva Wanasundera and Vijith Malalgoda. The Petitioner S. Pathumanapan, in his original petition, cited Senior Additional Solicitors Dappula de Livera and Yasantha Kodagoda, Senior Deputy Solicitors General Milinda Gunetilleke and more..

Feb 6 (ST) Wow, what a show it created as it must, the first nation worldwide, to receive a World Cup visit on its global tour. As one young enthusiast excitedly asked, Sir did we win the World Cup? One could only turn up one�s eyes and say, as good as we won son! Yes, it is now our job to go on and see when it will happen! Coca Cola did what it does well when in all its sweetness; it helped the coveted trophy be providentially brought to our paradise nation. more..

Feb 6 (CT) Dimuth Karunaratne said that SL were frustrated after failing to push for a win on the final day of the opening Test against Bangladesh on Sunday, citing that the wicket was not ideal for Test cricket with nothing in it for the bowlers. SL started the final day with a realistic chance of earning a win with the hosts trailing by 119 runs having been reduced to 81 for 3 in their second innings. However, a brilliant batting display by Mominul Haque & Liton Das kept the tourists at bay more..

Feb 6 (CT) Sri Lanka's women's tennis team will travel to Bahrain for this year's Fed Cup, the Annual World Cup of women's international tennis and for the 2018 Asia-Oceania Zone Group II tournaments. The matches will be held at the Bahrain Tennis Federation hard courts in Isa Town, Bahrain from 6 to 10 February. Sri Lanka team comprise Anika Seneviratne, Nethmi Waduge, Savini Jayasuriya and Janali Manamperi. Dineshkanthan Thangaraja will be the non-playing captain. more..

Feb 6 (DM) The SLPP said there was a plan by the govt to sidestep the parliamentary debate on the bond commission report by saying the matter was sub judice. SLPP Chairman G.L. Peiris said the govt had repeatedly attempted to block the debate on bond commission report. He said the President received the report on Dec 30, last year. �After a long delay, the report was released on January 17, 2018 with more..

Feb 6 (DN) Significant policy gaps exist when it comes to secondary and tertiary education an IPS survey revealed recently. It also said that Sri Lanka has been performing well at the primary education level. IPS research indicates that only 35% of the age 15 and above population has completed upper-secondary education in SL, and only 13.3% had completed tertiary education. Meanwhile, the Labour Demand Survey (LDS) has found that nearly one third of first-time job seekers coming from more..

Feb 6 (Island) Ideal Developments Canada and PURA Resorts Canada convened a press conference to announce their Villas Project in Trincomalee. Managing Director, PURA Resorts Inc. and Director Corporate Affairs, Ideal Group, Nithya Omkarananda said the villas project in Trinco will be quite an overall concept in luxury housing, fast growing in demand, in a peaceful atmosphere for existence and living. Be it for permanent settling down or used as holiday homes, more..

Feb 6 (DM) The parliamentary debate on PCoI and PRECIFAC reports could not be considered sub judice though legal proceedings had been initiated against three suspects in the CB bond scam, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya ruled. He made this ruling at party leaders meeting held in Parliament to discuss today�s debate. The party leaders had also decided to continue the debate on Feb 21-22. Speaker said on a previous occasion more..